IEE Power Division: Chairman´s address. Electric transport: the future prospects

A review of the prospects for increasing the use of electricity for transport reveals that the means are readily at hand. Both private and nationalised organisations within the UK have invested heavily in research and development, and the UK now holds a world lead in a number of the key technologies required for expanding the use of electricity in transport. A comparison of power flows when refuelling with petrol and refuelling with electricity leads to a set of conclusions on which most of the current research and development programmes seem to have been based. The limited-range battery-electric vehicle, the hybrid vehicle and main-line traction developments are considered, and the possibilities offered by all these technologies are reviewed. It is concluded that it is now up to the Government to act decisively in announcing an energy strategy that will take the UK into the 21st Century. It is inconceivable that the extended use of electricity for transport wifi not form part of such a strategy.